First Presbyterian Church of Upland

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First Presbyterian Church Preschool
Welcome to First Presbyterian Church Preschool! We are committed to making this preschool an exciting learning experience for your child. Our staff is trained in early childhood development and education. It is our privilege to nurture and minister to your child.
We hope the information on these web pages will be useful to your family. Please do not hesitate to contact me at the preschool office if I can assist you or your child in any way.

Sherri Provencher, Director
909-982-8616 or slprovencher@msn.com

For a printable copy of the preschool information listed below click here for a PDF copy

Philosophy
The First Presbyterian Preschool is a ministry of First Presbyterian Church of Upland. We believe that within a Christian atmosphere early childhood should be a time of fun, security, exploring, and discovery. Preschool children are creative and receptive; the staff strives to nurture and encourage these qualities in the children who attend.

The preschool's purpose is to provide an atmosphere that encourages social, emotional, physical, intellectual, and spiritual growth and development of the child as a whole.

Standards
First Presbyterian Preschool, established in 1966, is licensed by the State of California's Department of Social Services, and complies with all the standards put forth by that department. A volunteer Preschool Board and a paid Director govern its operation. A fully qualified teacher teaches each class. Our classroom ratio is one (1) teacher and one (1) assistant to fifteen (15) students.

Enrollment
Children are admitted regardless of race, creed, color, sex, national origin, religion, or political belief. A child with special needs will be accepted if it is determined that the preschool is able to meet the individual needs of the child and there would be no adverse effect upon other children either through direct behavior of the child or through requiring staff time needed by other children.
Children must be 2 years 6 months old to be enrolled.
Children must be fully potty trained. Pull-ups are not acceptable for preschool.
Separation of a child from a parent before the child is emotionally ready to adjust may be difficult. The chronological age is not the absolute criteria for admission. The staff will observe your child during his/her adjustment period at preschool and will evaluate the child's readiness for a school experience. The best interests of the child will be kept in mind in determining admission

Operation Schedule
The Preschool takes into consideration the Upland School District's calendar - closing for the same holidays and vacations. Because of state regulations concerning class size and teacher ratio, missed days may not be made up on nonscheduled days.
Preschool Hours
Morning Session 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Afternoon Session 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Extended Hours
Morning Extended Session 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.(additional charge)
Lunch Time Care 11:35 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.(children bring lunch from home, additional charge)

Calendar for the 2010 - 2011 School Year

September 1 First Day of School for Mon/Wed/Fri Students
September 2 First Day of School for Tues/Thurs Students
September 6 Labor Day**
October 28 & 29 Halloween Parade and Pumpkin Patch
November 11 Veterans Day**
November 18 & 19 Thanksgiving Feasts
November 22 - 26 Thanksgiving Holiday**
December 14 & 15 Christmas Parties
December 16 & 17 Christmas Programs
December 20 - 31 Christmas Break**
January 17 Martin Luther King Jr. Day**
February 10 & 14 Valentine's Parties
February 11 Lincoln's Birthday**
February 21 Presidents' Day**
March 16 & 17 St. Patrick's Day Parties
March 21 - 25 Spring Break**
April 20 & 21 Easter Parties
April 22 Good Friday**
May 24 & 25 Last Day of School Parties
May 26 & 27 Prekindergarten Class Promotion Program

**Indicates the days the school will be closed

Curriculum
We strive to choose curriculum for First Presbyterian Preschool that is fun, developmentally appropriate, academic, and stimulating to learning in all areas of development - physical, social, emotional, and spritual. Because we believe that children learn by doing, we provide "hands-on" activities that lead to concrete experiences, discovery, creativity, and interaction. Curriculum includes sharing and conversation time; stories, songs, and finger plays; creative art activities, and crafts; games and large muscle activities; food preparation; science and nature activities; readiness skills in reading, math and writing; exposure to shapes, colors, numbers, and letters; and celebration of holidays.
Chapel is included in the curriculum weekly. It is led by our preschool director. It is simple, child-like and teaches about Jesus and his love for everybody. We are an interdenominational preschool. We do not teach doctrine.

Health Information
Each child is required by state regulations to have on file a physician's report, which includes a record of up-to-date immunizations and the signature of the child's source of medical care. If a child's health care physical is not complete at the time of enrollment of within forty-five (45) days after enrollment, the child will be excluded from the program.
Children who arrive at preschool noticeably ill, with a rash, or with a fever will not be admitted for that day. Should a child become ill during the day, the parent will be notified immediately. For the protection of your child, as well as others, please keep your child home if he/she has such symptoms as runny nose, coughing, vomiting, nausea, headache, earache, ear discharge, abdominal pain, diarrhea, sore throat, skin rash, inflamed eyes, enlarged glands, or fever. Children should be well for 24 hours before returning to school.
Parents do not need to call the school office to report each absence. Please call the school if:
1. Your child contracts a contagious disease or parasite (Chicken Pox, Measles, Lice, etc.)
2. Your child is hospitalized or seriously injured.
3. Your child has missed more than 2 school days in a row.

In the event our school children are exposed to a communicable disease, parents will be notified. The ill child will not be allowed to return to preschool until the contagious period has passed.
In case of minor medical emergency during a preschool session, the staff will administer first aid. The parent or authorized adult will be notified as quickly as possible. If a child's parent or authorized adult cannot be reached and a doctor's attention is necessary, the child will be taken to San Antonio Community Hospital unless parents have indicated otherwise in the enrollment packet. 911 will be called for any major medical emergency.
If it is absolutely necessary to take medication at school, we must follow our licensing guidelines:
1. Give the medication to teacher or director.
2. Leave the medication in the prescription bottle. 3. Date and sign a not telling your child's name, name of medication, exact dosage, and time to be given.
4. We need a note from the doctor stating the name of the medication, exact dosage, and time to be given

If your child will have an Epi-Pen or Inhaler on campus, please contact the office prior to your child's first day of attendance. Our state licensing agency has special forms which need to be filled out for these medications that must be signed by both the parent and pediatrician.

Tuition - Standard Rate
2 day program Tues/Thursday $160.00 per month
3 day program Mon/Wed/Fri $190.00 per month
5 day program Mon through Fri $350.00 per month
Registration Fee $40.00 due annually

Tuition payments are due by the 7th day of each month. As an incentive to our families, when tuition is paid by the 7th we will offer a discount from the standard rates listed above.

Tuition - Discounted Rate:

2 day program Tues/Thursday $140.00 per month
3 day program Mon/Wed/Fri $170.00 per month
5 day program Mon through Fri $310.00 per month.
Any tuition payments received after the 7th will remain at the standard tuition rate. If tuition is not received by the 20th day of the month, the child will be dropped from enrollment. Our pre-school operates on a 9 month pay period. The yearly tuition charge is divided into 9 individual payments. September's tuition is due by August 6 and is non-refundable. If September's tuition is not received by August 6, the preschool will cancel a child's enrollment and offer his/her place to another child. After September's tuition is received in August, the next tuition payment would not be due until October and the last payment would be due in May. Your monthly tuition is not equated with the number of school days children attend each month. Because tuition is an annual fee, no refunds are given for illness, vacations, or holidays, and those days are not made up.
A $40.00 Registration Fee is due at the time of enrollment. This is a non-refundable fee. This fee applies to new students and returning students.
An extended session is offered from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. If you need to bring your child to school before 9:00 a.m., he/she may be taken to the early care room. The cost for this early room is $4.00 per hour or any part thereof. This fee is to be paid directly to the early care teacher. A lunchroom is offered everday from 11:35 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The children bring their lunches from home. The cost for the lunchroom is $4.00 per day for the hour. This is to be paid to the teacher when you pick your child up from the lunchroom. You may place payment in the child's lunchbox, and a staff member will collect payments while helping your child open his/her lunch. Children may not stay longer than 12:30 p.m. unless they are enrolled in an afternoon session.
Extended Care "Ticket" Payment
If you would like to pay for early extended care or a lunchroom hour in advance with your tuition payment, indicate on the check the amout paid for extended care and you will be issued "tickets" with your tuition receipt. Each ticket is worth $4.00 and may be used as payment the the teacher in charge. Payment is expected each day a child attends an extended session either in the form of cash or ticket. If no payment is received, the office will bill the family at a rate of $5.00 per hour or part thereof.
Late Pick Up Fees
Our school charges very high fees for children who are picked up late at the end of their session.
• Our morning session ends at 11:30 a.m. (At 11:35 a.m. children who are still here will be taken to a lunchroom. There will be a $4.00 charge.)
• Our lunchroom ends at 12:30 p.m. (Parents will be charged $1.00 per minute beginning at 12:31 p.m.)
• Afternoon session end at 3:00 p.m. (Parents will be charged $1.00 per minute beginning at 3:06 p.m.)
Discipline
Giving positive verbal rewards encourages acceptable behavior. This reinforces a child's good feeling about his/her behavior and serves as an example to the other children to act in such a way as to receive this praise. Asking a child to stop and think about his/her unpleasant behavior enables that child to work at self control. If a child is not cooperating in a group listening situation, the child is seated by a teacher and reminded of acceptable behavior. Removal from the group for a period of time-out is the next tactic used for a child who continually demonstrates unacceptable behavior. This time-out in not a punishment, but rather a time when the child may calm down, remember what behavior the teacher is asking for, and then the child may rejoin the group within a few minutes with appropriate behavior.
Corporal punishment is not considered to be an acceptable method of dealing with young children's behavior. Children will not be hit, slapped, or spanked in any manner while attending First Presbyterian Church Preschool. The preschool respectfully requests that all preschool families respect our policy of no corporal punishment while on church grounds.
If behavior problems persist, the child is brought to the director's office. Parents may be notified when a discipline problem exists. We need to maintain close cooperation between parents and school to work out the problem. If at anytime we feel a child has behavior problems so serious that we are not equipped to help, or, if we feel other students are being negatively affected, we will dismiss the child from enrollment.

Dress
Think of your child's comfort - and provide simple clothing that is free of complicated fastenings. Think of the messy art materials and other messy activities - and provide clothing that is washable. Think of our playground - and provide clothing that is sturdy. Think of the changeable autumn weather and dress your child warmly. Provide sweaters and jackets even on the first sunny fall days. It is much easier to remove an unneeded item than to put on something you don't have. Finally, think of our collection of unlabelled, unclaimed clothing - put labels on all outer garments including hats and umbrellas. Cowboy boots and dress shoes often have slippery soles and are not appropriate for preschool. All shoes must have a back to be safe.

Pick Up and Drop Off of Children
The preschool gate will remain closed until it is time for the school day to begin. When the gate is opened, the children are to be brought directly to their classroom. An authorized adult is sign each child in and out each day. A full signature is required. Children will only be signed out and released to the persons who have been authorized to pick up the child. This authorization is stated in each child’s records. These authorized persons must be able to show the preschool staff a driver’s license or other acceptable identification before the child will be released.
The courtyard will be attractively prepared for the children’s daily recess time. Please do not allow your preschool child or siblings to play on the equipment when you are bringing your child to school, or picking them up.

Withdrawal
If a child needs to be withdrawn from preschool, two weeks notice is required so that another child can fill the vacancy. Should more notice be possible, it would be appreciated. Please give the notice, in writing, to the Director.
Emergency School Closure
Emergency school closure will be at the discretion of the Director when it is determined that the health, safety, and welfare of the children is compromised due to the following conditions:
Loss of power, heat, telephone, inclement weather conditions or disaster. Tuition refunds will not be granted for less than two (2) consecutive days of school closure. The Preschool Board, if necessary, will consider refunds.

Snacks
Our state licensing agency requires that our preschool post a written snack menu in the classrooms at least one week in advance. Each month the school will post a snack menu in each classroom. Parents can sign up to bring snacks for their child's class, but because we are bound to the state licensing guidelines, we will ask that parents simply pick a day and bring the menu item already posted. That item may be brought to the class and given to the teacher on the day you have signed up for. We appreciate your help in staying compliant with the state licensing guidelines. If your child has a birthday celebration, you may bring in a special snack treat along with your posted snack item. Please be sure and discuss any special celebrations with your teacher in advance. And please remember, our school is a Nut Free School.
Birthday Parties
Children’s birthdays are very important! If you would like to have a small celebration in the classroom, please sign up for that day to bring the snack. Please remember that our state licensing regulations require us to provide a nutritious snack. If you want to send a cupcake (or other sweet item), be sure to send it with a nutritious food item too.
Birthday invitations will only be passed out at school if all children are invited. Remember to be sensitive to the feelings of all the children in the classroom (and their parents). If all children are not going to be invited, please take care of the invitation off of school grounds.

Nut Free School
Our school has students who are deathly allergic to nuts, including peanuts, walnuts, almonds, cashews, pecans, and any other tree nut. The severe allergy is also to nut oils, and any itmes that contain nut products. Their allergy is so severe that it is expected that they would go into immediate life threatening shock if the have any contact with these items. Our staff have been trained specifically on how to provide immediate life saving first aid if this were to happen. One of the steps we have taken to protect these children is to make our campus a Nut Free School. Children will not be able to eat items that contain nuts in the classroom. Please check your food carefully when preparing snacks and/or lunches that will be brought to campus.
Policy for Changing Children
Children must be fully potty trained in order to attend Preschool. We understand that young children are still developing the bathroom habits and they do have accidents periodically. We try to keep accidents at a minimum by taking all children to the bathroom after their courtyard outdoor playtime. We ask parents to please be sure their child uses the bathroom at home before arriving at school. If child become wet during their time at preschool, the child is immediately taken to a bathroom. The child is handed a baby wipe and encouraged to wipe the wet area. Dry clothes are handed to the child to dress him/herself, or an adult may dress the child. From the point the clothes are removed to the point the child is dressed, two adults are always present. If a child has a bowel movement accident, the child is immediately taken to the bathroom. If a child is uncomfortable with our staff assistance, parents may be called to ask if they would like to come to the school to change their child of if they would mind if staff member cleaned the child. Two adults will be present while the child’s soiled clothes are removed and a child is cleaned. Fresh clothes are handed to the child to dress him/herself, of an adult may dress the child. All soiled clothes are sent home to be washed.

Pre-School Board:
• Voting Members:
o Joan Schell (Chair, Elder, Representative to Session)
o Janet Kaufman
o Carol Griffith
o Linda Cook
o Sue Frazee
o Meg Burke
• Non Voting Members:
o Helen Edmon (ex-officio staff treasurer)
o Sherri Provencher (Preschool Director)
                                                                                                                                                                              Faculty:
• Mrs. Salinas
• Mrs. Redwine
• Mrs. Guerrero
• Mrs. Struempf
• Mrs. Haus
• Mrs. Knight
• Mrs. Vargo
• Mrs. Patton
• Director - Sherri Provencher
• Bookkeeper - Debbie Roll